Four Sooners Earn Academic Honors

By Athletics Communications

University of Oklahoma

MARCH 01, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. The University of Oklahoma men’s basketball team was well represented on the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Team with four honorees, the conference announced today. OU’s Michael Neal, Kellen Sampson, Taylor Griffin and Austin Johnson comprised almost one-fifth of the league’s 22 individual first- and second-team members.

Neal and Sampson, both seniors, were first-team selections. Neal is an African and African-American studies major from Mesquite, Texas, while Sampson, from Norman, earned his undergraduate degree in three-and-a-half years in communication. Neal averages10.2 points and 2.7 rebounds this season, and has made a team-high 48 3-point field goals. Sampson has totaled 15 points in his 11 games, and started Monday’s Senior Night game against No. 3 Kansas.

Sophomores Johnson and Griffin were named to the second team. Johnson is undecided in his major while Griffin is majoring in zoology/pre-med. Johnson, from Amarillo, Texas, is averaging 7.5 points and a team-high 3.1 assists per game. Griffin, who hails from Oklahoma City, is averaging 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the academic all-league men’s basketball team’s first-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA. Members of the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

Oklahoma was the only school with multiple first-team selections. Nine total student-athletes made the first team while 13 were named to the second team.

The Sooners, 15-13 overall and 6-9 in the Big 12, close out the regular season on Saturday at Kansas State. The 2:30 p.m. CST game will be regionally televised by ABC.

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